What You Might Not Know about Canada’s Capital

 While Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver seem to get all the attention, Canada’s capital is - perhaps ironically - all too often overlooked. In reality, Ottawa ranks as one of the world’s top cities in terms of quality of life and several other major indicators.  If you don’t know much about

Preparing to move to Canada: Everything you need to know

 Over the last few decades, Canada has established a reputation as one of the world’s most welcoming countries when it comes to immigration. In the coming years, it is looking to allow 500,000 new immigrants into the country each year to support humanitarian needs, reunite families and boost the economy. 

A Comprehensive Guide to Navigating Immigration Law in Ottawa: Immigration Lawyers and Resources

 In recent times, Ottawa's immigration system has been overwhelmed with information requests. It's evident that the government had prior information about the increasing demand. However, Ottawa's actions seemed insufficient to handle the situation effectively. Due to the overwhelming number of inquiries about visas, work permits, and family sponsorships, there is

Is multiculturalism dead or alive?

 ABOVE: New Canadian Citizens are sworn in during a Canada Day new citizenship ceremony at Milton, Ontario. (Photo: iStock) By Elie Mikhael Nasrallah What do multiculturalism and Tim Hortons have in common? From an ivory tower perspective, or academic treatise, nothing seems to warrant attention, but in terms of practical

Why so many Canadian professionals are ethnically Indian

 The modern world is more globalized than ever before. With the introduction of digital technologies, faster means of transportation and communication, people from different parts of the world are closely interconnected. Moving to another part of the world is not a biggie nowadays as millions of people are migrating overseas

Correct Me If I’m Wrong — False claims about immigration

 Ottawa Life Magazine Publisher and Managing Editor Dan Donovan provides commentary on some of the big issues of the day with a witty and at times sarcastic look at our political masters and their zany ideas. In the series' second episode, he looks at false claims about immigration and the difference between an

#WelcomeToCanada

 It is nightfall at the end of January. Bitter cold has descended on the snow-covered fields somewhere in southern Quebec. It’s the kind of cold that seeps right through your clothes and clutches at your breath. Along the dark shadows of the treeline, figures are walking. It is a family.

Five Quick-Wins for Trudeau’s First Day in Office

 Photo by Jean-Marc Carisse While it takes time for a new prime minister to translate campaign rhetoric into effective policies, there are at least five quick-wins that Justin Trudeau can achieve on his very first day in office. All five can be implemented in a few minutes through simple orders-in-council

Will climate refugees in Canada finally spur action on climate change?

 Photo Credit: Eric Wüstenhagen Ryan Meili and Mahli Brindamour A young child arrives at the hospital emergency room in respiratory distress, his asthma worsened by smoke exposure. An elder has uncontrolled blood pressure because there wasn't time to get her medications when the evacuation orders came through. Scabies and other illnesses related

Canada’s Building Trades Unions: How One Union is Fighting for Canada’s Economic Future

 Representing 15 unions and 60 different skilled trades, Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) has the job of keeping the construction industry in Canada safe, high-paying and fair. These challenges, however, are only a few of the many facing the CBTU and Canada’s construction industry. Half a million members strong, the

Deported Man from Guinea Sues Canadian Ex-Wife Lainie Towell

 Love hurts. Few people know this better than Lainie Towell, an independent artist and dancer from the National Capital Region. Eight years ago, in the spring of 2004, Lainie Towell traveled to the West African country of Guinea to study African choreography with a Guinean dance troupe. During her three

Heart Break & Entry into Canada

 The evil scheme: Court an unsuspecting victim and develop a false relationship to gain access to a foreign country. Sound like something from a fictional novel? Unfortunately, it happens all too frequently and all too often the victims are Canadian men and women, like Lainie Towell. Lainie is an artist

Awakening the giant: The return of Poland

 In this issue of Ottawa Life, we begin the first of a two-part series on Poland. That is to say the new Poland – a country with a most intricate history of war and ideological conflict, but also one of sophisticated art and culture. Polish influence extends to Canada and

Heroes betrayed —The Merchant Seamen story

 By Cliff Chadderton It is mid-January of 1940 in "an East Canadian port." Canada is at war. The recruiting offices are open. You see a poster of a soldier in a tin hat. You recall the slaughter of the trenches in Flanders in World War I and mutter: "No thanks."